Marlborough Police Chief Charged In Theft Of Funds

March 04, 1988|by DAN FRICKER, The Morning Call

Marlborough Police Chief William F. Rupp III was arrested yesterday by Montgomery County detectives and charged with stealing $2,910 in receipts he allegedly never turned over to the township. Rupp was immediately suspended without pay by the township supervisors.

Rupp, 45, of 198 Upper Ridge Road was arrested in his office and arraigned before District Justice Catherine Hummel of East Greenville on charges of theft, receiving stolen property, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received and misapplication of entrusted property. Rupp's bail was set at $1,000. He was released on his own recognizance.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday before Hummel.

Rupp's arrest followed a combined township and county investigation begun last August when township officials first noticed discrepancies between the amounts of money the Police Department was collecting and the amounts turned over to the township.

Nevertheless, Rupp's attorney, James W. Maza, said the police chief's arrest was a surprise. "It was a shock not only to Bill but also to the entire community," said Maza, hired by Rupp only after he was arrested.

Rupp had no comment on the charges, Maza said.

The township supervisors met in executive session shortly after Rupp's arrest and immediately suspended him without pay. Rupp, a 14-year veteran of the department, had requested that he be relieved of his duties, Maza said. Rupp surrendered his handgun and shield.

The supervisors named Sgt. Frank Buza, a 13-year department veteran, to serve as acting police chief.

According to the arrest affidavit, the township investigation into Rupp's alleged thefts began in August when Samuel H. Snyder, chairman of the supervisors, learned about the fund discrepancies from township Secretary- Treasurer Patricia Needs and Phyllis Moyer, township police secretary and crossing guard.

As a result, the supervisors hired the certified public accounting firm of Howard L. Kulp, Pennsburg, to audit township financial records and Police Department receipts from Jan. 1, 1986, to July 31, 1987. The audit uncovered discrepancies between moneys received for five Police Department accounts and amounts handed over to Needs, including a $2,735 difference in vendor permit fees.

At the township's request, the district attorney's office entered the investigation Feb. 18, when a county detective interviewed the first of five township police officers and township officials.

Among the information uncovered by the investigation were allegations that Rupp kept a yearly $75 donation from Suburban Water Co. of Philadelphia in 1986 for the department equipment fund. An officer on the force works part- time for the water company and the company gives a $75 donation every year to pay each officer's Fraternal Order of Police dues. But Rupp never distributed the money to the officers to pay their dues, as was the practice, the affidavit said.

It also found that Rupp allegedly kept a $20 towing fee he received from Mark H. Dunn when Dunn picked up his motorcycle at the police station following an Oct. 10 accident. The money was supposed to be paid to B&S Towing.